Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-05-27
ABOUT PlcKPockETs,
pecullnrltics OF Members OF tho Craft Ac
cording to Their NatIonnlItIcs

| pccuiiaritics OF Members OF tho Craft Ac
cording to Their NatIonnlitlcs.
In q volume recently published II
Paris, the work of M. Mace, formerly
chief of the detective police, is chapter
devoted to 'pickpockets. Tho writer
has evidently large amount of in
formation on the subject, for he dis.
cussos in most interesting manner the
| peculiaritics of these chevalicrs d'indus-
trie according to their respective ma
tionalities He seems to hold the En-
glish pickpockets in great contempt
and asserts that the reputation which
they enjoy rs expert thieves is entirely
undcscrved, and that, as general rule,
they are very maladroit and bungling
in their methods. They are, ho says,
both of the male and female sex, the
latter not being found to any extent
among other nations. They ply there
trade any where, in the theater, in the
ballroom, concert halls, museums,
churches, race-courses, and in fact
wherever large assemblies are found,
and especially in the crowded omni-
buses, which they know how to "work"
with great success, and hero Mt least can
empty the pockets of those who are
best guarded against their approach.
Several cases are cited to show how
skillfully this branch of the trade is
operated and of the devices resorted to
to put victims off their guard and cs-
cape detection, which would seem to
disprovc the authors assertion that the
English are not up TO all the sharp
practices of the profession.
The German pickpocket differs ma
tcrially in his methods from his En-
glish brother. He is master of what is
callod "l'esbrouffc," which consists in
the old trick of colliding violently with
the victim and profiting by the lattcr's
confusion TO relieve him of his watch or
pocketbook. He frequcnts the race
courses and the large shops, and he is
frequently met with in large financial
establishments, where people so to de-
post or draw money, where he watches
for the right person to come along.
The Germans are more skillful at this
method of pocket-picking than any
other nation. The Spaniards are
worthy of mention, although they ap-
pear TO have no marked peculiarities
in their methods, from the fact that
they make II sort of religion of the pro-
fession and provide themselves with
chaplcts, relics of the saints, rosaries
and other sacred articles to placate the
Holy Virgin for engaging in the illegal
business. When arrested they affect
the most shameless hypocrisy, COM
mending themselves to God, to the
Virgin and to all the saints in Paradise.
According to NJ. Mace the Italian
pickpocket is the master of his profess
sion. He knows his skill and is con-
scious of his superiority, and, in a word,
is the only one of his stripe that can
laugh at all the police in Europe. I'm
fortunately for him, however, his over
weening confidence in his own adroit-
ness and skill brings him 10 grief oc-
casionally; but if the Italian, says this
authority, had the prudence of an En-
glishman he would be able to defy all
the detectives in the universe. The
French pickpockets are cosmopolitan
in their methods, sometimes employing
those of the English and sometimes
those of the German, according to cir
cumstances, and they are not unskillful
in their use of those foreign devices.
They have also invented one of their
own, which if the police reports are any
indication, show that the French are
not behind other nations in originality
and ingenuity in this direction. Moth
ing is said of American pickpockets,
but there is no doubt that very inter-
esting chapter might be devoted TO the
light-fngered gentry on this side. Like
the French they are cosmopolitan in
their use of methods, and in their ranks
may be found not only men and women,
but children as well. The latter, as
recent experience goes to show, are by
no means behind their elders in skill
and nimblencss. In fact one of the
most successful as well as one of the
boldest pickpockcts on record was n
little girl who was recently detected in
the crime, and whose exploits attracted
much public attention. Judging from
some of the celebrated cases" cited by
NJ. Mace, this one to which we have
Just alluded would probably fill the
French detective with unqualified
anlazement.-M y. Graphic.